Zaid Darbar has apologised to his wife and actress Gauahar Khan after facing criticism for laughing at actor Kushal Tandon’s controversial comment during an episode of the reality show Alliance. The remark, which sparked a debate among viewers, involved Kushal saying, “Tujhe meri cheezein pasand aati hai”, leading to online backlash against Gauahar.
The apology came after wildcard contestant Vanshaj Singh informed Zaid that Kushal’s comment had resulted in Gauahar receiving criticism on social media. Realising the impact of his reaction, Zaid admitted that he made a mistake by taking the remark lightly.
In a video shared by production company Banijay Asia on Instagram, Zaid expressed regret and apologised to Gauahar. He said, “Sometimes, I just get carried away with my life. I didn’t realise it. What Kushal said was wrong. And I took it lightly. It’s my fault.”
Zaid further added that he never intended to hurt anyone and said, “I’m sorry. Really sorry, and I hope you understand what I am. You know me. You know what kind of a person I am. I can’t hurt anyone. I can hurt myself, but I can’t hurt anyone around me.”
Reacting to his apology, Gauahar supported her husband and advised him not to get affected by what she described as unnecessary negativity. Commenting on the video, she wrote, “Vanshaj is playing. Masti is ok, coz you know every silly thing doesn’t mean one gets offended. You are right, don’t get swayed by dirty play. Keep rocking Jaanu.”
The controversy began in July when Zaid asked Kushal for a cigarette because the ones he had were not good enough. Responding with a joke, Kushal reportedly made the comment about Gauahar, which was criticised by some viewers for being inappropriate.
At the time, Gauahar had publicly defended Zaid and praised his performance on the show. She shared a post highlighting his confidence and wrote, “Killer performance with zero insecurities,” adding that secure people do not take offence easily and that wisdom comes from knowing when to react.
Gauahar Khan and Zaid Darbar got married in 2020 and are parents to two sons, Zehaan, born in 2023, and Farwaan, born in 2025. Gauahar and Kushal Tandon had previously been linked after meeting as contestants on Bigg Boss 7 in 2013, but they parted ways in 2014.
Alliance marks the first international adaptation of Talpa Studios’ popular Dutch format created by John de Mol. Produced by Banijay Asia, the Hindi reality show features 16 contestants entering as allies, with changing partnerships, strategic moves and betrayals shaping their journey toward the ultimate prize.